In evaluating the ability of commercial sensors to satisfy tactical-level geospatial data requirements in the littoral zone, this response proposes to develop an empirical assessment of several emerging sensor systems and associated image-processing tools to characterize their ability to meet the U.S. Navy (USN) and U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) littoral warfare program data requirements. The systems to be evaluated include:ú GeoSAR X/P Band IFSARú Topographic and bathymetric LIDARú Digital cameras, including color, panchromatic, multispectral, and thermalú Passive microwave radiometer Study results will be presented in a three-dimensional trade space of sensors, applications, and littoral zone characteristics. The ability to characterize the littoral zone through new remote-sensing tools will immediately benefit the military planner, or theater team, by providing better diagnoses of target regions. This study also will present a matrix of systems that will yield the optimum sensor suite for regional characterization. Commercial applications of these technologies will reach a diverse sector, from coastal and environmental site monitoring, to agriculture (lowlands, drainage), to forestry and forest characterization.
Keywords: Geosar, Lidar, Digital Camera, Radiometer, Thermal, Multispectral, IFSAR
